HATHA YOGA COURSE DETAILS

This yoga teacher training program is an intensive yoga immersion program which gives you the benefits and knowledge of everything which should be covered in a comprehensive 200-hour Hatha Yoga Teacher Training.

During our 200-hour HathaYoga Teacher Training Course, you will learn and practice traditional asanas, pranayama, meditation and kriyas. You will also get regular teaching practice opportunities and receive feedback from teachers and classmates to improve your teaching skills.

HATHA YOGA: PRACTICUM

• 90-minute intermediate traditional Hatha Yoga Sequence practice every morning.
• 60-minutes Hatha, Yin or Vinyasa Flow class minimum thrice a week during sunset time.
• One partner yoga class during the course
• Daily Workshops on Traditional Hatha Yoga Sun Salutations, standing, seated and finishing asanas.
• Alignment & modifications two-hour daily workshops: In these classes you will learn how to practice asanas with appropriate alignment and how to modify them when and if necessary, according to the Hatha Yoga tradition. You will also learn how to use props such as blocks, bolsters, straps, blankets, and walls in various postures.
• Hands-on adjustment workshops: In these classes you will learn how to give verbal and hands-on adjustments to your students in a safe environment. This will help you not only correct their alignment but also help them deepen their postures.
• Posture clinics: There are two optional posture clinics every week where you can work on your posture on one-on-one basis with the teachers.

PRANAYAMA

• Introduction to pranayama
• Definition of prana, breath and pranayama
• The science and anatomy of pranayama
• Pancha koshas (the five sheaths/five bodies),
• Pranic body and spiritual significance of pranayama
• Types of breathing and their practice: abdominal breathing, thoracic breathing, clavicular breathing, full yogic breathing
• Types of pranayama and their practice: Anulom vilom, nadi shodhana, kapalbhati, bhastrika, ujjayi, bhramari, surya bhedan pranayama
• How to teach pranayama

MEDITATION

• Meditation: Introduction, definition and aim
• Science of meditation
• Effects of meditation on the brain and mind
• How to meditate
• How to teach meditation
• Types of meditation to be covered: Kundalini meditation, Chakra meditation, Om meditation, Nada meditation, Mantra meditation, Antara mauna, Chidakash Dharana.

SHATKARMA (YOGIC CLEANSING TECHNIQUES)

• Introduction to shatkarmas or Kriyas
• Benefits of shatkarma
• Types and practice of shatkarmas: All the techniques will be demonstrated and conducted for all the students as far as possible
  • Neti (nasal cleansing),
  • Shankha Prakshalana (cleansing of the entire digestive tract)
  • Agnisar Kriya (activating the digestive fire)
  • Vaman Dhauti (regurgitative cleansing)
  • Vastra Dhauti (upper digestive tract cleansing)
  • Nauli (abdominal massaging)
  • Basti (yogic enema)
  • Kapalbhati (frontal brain cleansing)
  • Trataka (concentrated candle gazing)

BANDHAS AND MUDRAS

• Science and philosophy of bandhas and mudras
• Theory and practice of Bandhas: moola bandha (root lock), uddiyana bandha (abdomen lock), jalandhara bandha (neck lock), maha bandha (great lock)
• Five groups of Mudras: hand mudras, head mudras, postural mudras, lock mudras, perineal mudras
• Theory and practice of basic mudras like jnana mudra, chin mudra, yoni mudra, bhairava mudra, hridaya mudra, shambhavi mudra, nasikagra mudra, shanmukhi mudra, unmani mudra, etc.

PHILOSOPHY

• Yoga: Introduction, history, meaning and lifestyle
• Four paths of yoga: Jnana Yoga, Raja Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga
• Introduction to important Hatha yoga scriptures
• The yogic diet and life styles
• Importance of satsang and sangha
• Concepts of three gunas: Satva, Rajas, Tamas.
• Life style and ethics for a yoga practitioner and teacher
• Hatha yoga
  • Introduction to hatha yoga
  • The subtle energy channels: The main nadis: Ida, Pingla and Sushumna
  • Introduction to chakras.
  • Seven chakras: Moladhara, swadhisthana, manipura, anahata, vishuddhi, ajna, bindu and sahasrara
  • Chakra sadhana and meditations
  • Methods and preparation of awakening the chakras and kundalini

ANATOMY

Our functional anatomy classes ensure an understanding of the key muscles and bones involved in asana practice and their associated health benefits and contraindications. Substantial emphasis is placed on analytic training, muscular and skeletal anatomy, individual physical limitations and differences. The specially designed practical anatomy classes are the back bone of the alignment classes. Not only will you be taught these lectures in the class room but will also be given access to our pre-recorded online anatomy module taught by our co-founder Eli Aguilar. We highly encourage you to finish this module before coming to the course. Our anatomy module covers the following:

• The basics:
  • Skeletal system, muscular system, connective tissue, nervous system, and movements of the major joints of the body
• Functional anatomy: Concepts of functional anatomy and physiology related to movement.
• Application of anatomical principles to yoga practice:
  • Mechanics of yoga asana
  • Healthy patterns of movement
• Muscular and skeletal differences i.e. compression, tension, and proportion and orientation theory.
• Study of different regions of the body: The foot, knee, hips, spine, and shoulder

TEACHING PRACTICE, METHODOLOGY AND TECHNIQUE

“The best way to learn is to teach” – Frank Oppenheimer

Our 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training course will help you to deepen your connection with your emotions and feelings which will empower you to teach from your heart. Our Yoga Teacher Training program is a practical training designed to help you become a confident and effective Yoga teacher for all level of students.

What you will learn in these classes?

• How to teach traditional Hatha Yoga classes
• Principles of sequencing Hatha Yoga classes
• Teaching practice: There will be a lot of opportunities for teaching practice. From day one, you will start teaching one-on-one and then progress to teaching larger groups towards the end of the course.
• Teaching feedback: You will receive feedback on your teachings from your classmates and teachers, to help you to improve your teaching skills and to find your unique voice and style as a teacher
• In addition, you will learn
  • Principles of demonstration.
  • Teaching styles and qualities of a good yoga teacher.
  • Voice projection, floor presence, safety.
  • Hands-on and verbal adjustments
  • Ethics of a good yoga teacher and much more.
• By the end of the course, you will be able to teach mixed-level open Hatha Yoga classes confidently.

PRE-STUDY NON-CONTACT HOURS MODULE

• The pre-study online module is not mandatory to finish before you join the course but highly recommended since teachers will cover Q&A from it.
• Once you have booked your place in the course; we will give you access to the online module which covers the non-contact hours of the training.
• This online module is a combination of pre-recorded classes and the teacher training manual.
• This module covers a big portion of the yoga anatomy content, and includes a few classes on pranayama, meditation and philosophy.
• We strongly encourage you to watch and finish the anatomy section before starting the in-person training at Goa as it will enhance the quality of your learning process.